To begin with, I am not a biased person, and the truth cannot hide. In reference to your article dated Friday, February 6, 2020, Vol.29 No. 238, stating that I seem to want to continue to perpetuate the misguided assumption that SMHDF is a part of government: The word perpetuate is a verb. In layman’s terms it means to cause something to continue. In other words, SMHDF is not part of government. Very interesting news for the tenants to know.
They went on to say, “SMHDF is a private organization carrying out the work that government is supposed to do and no way can be described as a public entity.” I hope the government reads this article. My question to them was, if you are not part of government, why they continue subsidizing the organization with a yearly amount of NAf. 300,000? This total was mentioned by SMHDF in the newspaper.
This is definitely not good! In order for tenants to get a relief, they had to take SMHDF to court. Many of the units still have leaks. There’s not even a community center where children in Belvedere can go and socialize with their peers, read books and get help with homework. Since Hurricane Lenny my roof spouting was blown away. Many other tenants lost their spouting also. Up until today I am still waiting for them to come and replace them. These spouting are very important because they stop the heavy load of water coming off the roof to the ground. Now there’re no spouting the water falls heavily to the front and back porches. Sometimes it got into the outlet and tripped the breaker.
I didn’t malign the foundation in any way. Information presented by the organization in the newspaper Vol.29. 219 states “Belvedere homes had hidden defects before Erma which cost $17 million.” I question them in my article about only now because SMHDF needs $45 million for new projects the tenants are hearing of the defects in the units and the cost of $17 million before [Hurricane – Ed.] Irma. I didn’t hear about these defects before Erma.
I’ve noted also that a number of financial reports and statistical information were presented to government by your team of professionals. If that is so, Why the three ministers still asked the foundation for Statement of Affairs? Why doesn’t the organization publish a Receipt and Payment Account, Income and Expenditure Account and Statement of Affairs for 2016 to 2019 in the National Gazette to prove me wrong? Has SMHDF ever provided feedback forms for the tenants to rate your service and performance? I think you should conduct the survey.
I never associated the foundation with any fraudulent activities. I said in my article that it is vital to prepare the necessary statements to safeguard the organization against fraud. What is wrong with that? There’s a difference between a Minister of Justice and a Public Prosecutor. If I asked the minister of justice and other ministers to make SMHDF comply to the request by the government, this doesn’t mean the organization commits a crime. Ministers have a parliament to answer to on how they spent taxpayers’ money. Most of the words expressed in their article is certainly out of context.
We are couple of months away from another hurricane season and no progress has been made to secure the units. I am a community-minded person. If I see someone needs help in the community I’ll try to assist that person. I remember in Matthew chapter 14:25-32 Jesus saw his disciples in the middle of the sea when a storm was approaching and saw that they needed help, and straight away he went to them walking on the water to rescue them. So am I today! I help the community by writing on events affecting the poor people in the community.
Finally, in our society many organizations involved in public housing should not confuse the social needs of the people with their economic wants. Sociology and economics sometimes clash on what is social and what is economic. It is quite convincing to financers to say that we are going to build new homes, etc., for people in the community in order to prevent homelessness in order to receive financial support. On the other side, when the homes are built, they are either for sale or for rent at high prices. The low-income family will not be able to rent or purchase these homes. This is the economic part to be considered. The government through their respective organization should continue subsidizing the low-income people to prevent homelessness.
Sometimes a private organization is established as a foundation and carrying out its commercial activities as a public entity. A good example is when private individuals purchase part of the shares in a public organization. Moreover, SMHDF is subsidized by government as stated in the newspaper with a yearly amount of NAf. 300,000. If funds are coming from other sources through government the organization can be private as well public. The aim and objectives statements will give more clarity in this matter. Foundations at times engage in this activity to gain and enjoy certain privileges.
Joseph Harvey
